First post 54 Lincoln

That may be a factory type set up but I don't know. New lines can be fabricated and the old antique compressor can be replaced with a smaller late style if it's bad or need seals and a clutch that is unobtanium. It might be a York type but it is certainly a very early example. With a unit in the trunk, a person may be able to updated it with a new evaporator or expansion valve if need be. You never know though. The components may be usable. A person might be able to convert to R134 as long as it's compltely flushed out. R12 is too much toward the unobtanium to even consider now days. If a Sanden comperessor & clutch could be retrofitted, that would be a big step but you would need 12-volts to run it. A person may be able to find a squirrel cage fan motor to change to 12-volt for air flow.

A person would likely need at least a 45-amp or better alternator conversion to run with all that stuff.
 
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58Yeoman said:
Using lincolnoldparts.com has a 53 carb for $700 + $350 core, and a 54 dizzie for $650 + $325 core. That would be very close to $2000 right out of the gate, as B-ster doesn't have any cores. Even if he had to have some work done by someone else, it might be cheaper to go with a newer engine/trans.
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The '53 carb was the first Holley 4 barrel (model 2140) and actuaally had mechanical secondaries. I have one restored and guaranteed for sale for a little while now (in the Ford Barn Late V8 swap meet section). Problem is '53 Lincoln had the first try at a dual diaphragm distributor and this carb is calibrated to that ignition system. Don't know who these gougers are asking $700. I only want half of that.
Also, like I said earlier, I know where you can get a '54 Lincoln Holley.

If your engine has been open like that for all those years without a carb and open holes, I think it will take a major very expensive rebuild to get it going.

Sal
 
rotorwrench said:
That may be a factory type set up but I don't know. New lines can be fabricated and the old antique compressor can be replaced with a smaller late style if it's bad or need seals and a clutch that is unobtanium. It might be a York type but it is certainly a very early example. With a unit in the trunk, a person may be able to updated it with a new evaporator or expansion valve if need be. You never know though. The components may be usable. A person might be able to convert to R134 as long as it's compltely flushed out. R12 is too much toward the unobtanium to even consider now days. If a Sanden comperessor & clutch could be retrofitted, that would be a big step but you would need 12-volts to run it. A person may be able to find a squirrel cage fan motor to change to 12-volt for air flow.

A person would likely need at least a 45-amp or better alternator conversion to run with all that stuff.
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I don't think that Lincoln came with factory AC since there are no fresh air inlets on the upper rear quarters. The AC evaporator was mounted in the trunk until '56 production.

Sal
 
Yes, there is an intake on the rear deck. I originally thought there was a speaker mounted there cuz it's still there, just bent back to make room for the intake duct.
And scicala.. there is tape on the intake. Don't know when it was put there but it is covered. Sure am hoping it will just need a top end cleaning, maybe do valves and whatnot.
 
I'm going to be taking the evaporator box outta the trunk to see what's in there and salvagible. Afraid there's a while lotta mice or rats been living there for a long time. Gonna cover up the output duct holes and maybe drop a bug bomb or something in there if I see any. Will pull a motor out of it to see in first. Definitely has been rats in the car for a long while. Picked up about 10 lbs of crap out of the car so far. My respirator mask just arrived so I'll continue cleaning it up. Still working on removing the front seat, been spraying the nuts with blast for a couple of days now.
 
I found this on a search about the Cold Comfort system.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blo...56-lincoln-premiere-factory-air-conditioning/

It states that it was originally offered in 1952 and stuck around thru 1956 for Lincoln and Mercury applications. It also states that it has no clutch. The compressor has a valve that bypasses excess pressure in a loop at the compressor which basically allows it to function whenever the engine is running. The only V type compressors I have found so far are the RV2 Chrysler types but they are conventional clutch types. That system is definitely interesting.

Here is a manual on flea-pay. They have one for 1953 as well but I suspect they are similar systems. The modulator valve (pressure relief) is mounted on the condenser coil in one photo.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3131161518...MI6o2L4Pn19QIVwBmtBh1H-AAZEAQYAyABEgL4-_D_BwE
 
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rotorwrench said:
Have a look at Kultulz's #36 post. It has an illustration of the trunk mount set up.
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rotorwrench, OK, I see now. I didn't realize they pulled air from inside the car on '54 Lincolns. I know '55 Mercury's and early '56 Mark II's pulled the air in through holes on the rear quarters.
After looking again, I can also see the clear plastic tubes for the cold air going up from the package shelf and into the headliner. My mistake.

Sal
 
Did you happen to notice that you are missing the heater blower motor and squirrel-cage fan and motor mounting plate along with the ductwork that goes from the squirrel-case housing to the firewall?
In the late '70's I bought a '55 Ford Victoria 2-dr hardtop from somebody's backyard for $100. I took a good 6-volt battery over to install and start the engine, but when I turned the key, it wouldn't crank. I got out and found that all the spark plugs were gone, so I had it towed home. No telling how long the plugs were gone and it was a particularly high humidity area.
After I got it home and took the heads off, the cylinder walls were rusted badly.
It had the original 182HP 272 Y-block with 4-bbl carb and dual exhausts. I wound up scrapping the engine block.
Hopefully, being in a more dry climate, you may be able to do a rebuild without busting out the pistons and boring the cyl walls.
 
Yes. Hopefully the plugs haven't been out long. I'm leaning towards just taking the heads off and see how had, ( or good) it is in there. the blower motor and squirrel cage is here, came with the car
 
OK, I have been holding off on this one, but I now have my flak jacket on.

If you just want a 50's car to ride around in, it will be much cheaper and easier to find a donor car, like a late Crown Vic, that is in good running condition, and use as many parts off of it as you can.

My '56 Ford Victoria, was a frame off restoration in 1991, when they used an '86 Merc Grand Marquis as a donor. It has been on the road for 30 years since then, drives nice, has fuel injection, air, overdrive auto trans, etc, and it is much more trouble free than the original '55-bird I have.

Had to say it. Running for the cellar now.
 
Grumpy Rick said:
OK, I have been holding off on this one, but I now have my flak jacket on.

If you just want a 50's car to ride around in, it will be much cheaper and easier to find a donor car, like a late Crown Vic, that is in good running condition, and use as many parts off of it as you can.

My '56 Ford Victoria, was a frame off restoration in 1991, when they used an '86 Merc Grand Marquis as a donor. It has been on the road for 30 years since then, drives nice, has fuel injection, air, overdrive auto trans, etc, and it is much more trouble free than the original '55-bird I have.

Had to say it. Running for the cellar now.
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NOPE!

You are 100% correct. Cheapest way out.
 
Grumpy Rick said:
OK, I have been holding off on this one, but I now have my flak jacket on.
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I found that it also advisable when you hear a can rattle IN THE WIRE and the platoon sergeant yells, "INCOMING ... GET DOWN!!" ...

To NOT to stand up and start dancing ... :(

ALWAYS REMEMBER ... INCOMING HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ... ;)
 
Ok Rick. How did the engine and ****** mount up? A lot of fabrication? Because when I do go take a look inside the motor and it's shot, that may be the way to go. I'm going to have to find a way to make the pictures I take on my phone smaller so I can post pics of what I find so y'all can give advice
 
The late Ford 4.6L SOHC modular engine is Big even though the displacement is only 281 CID and all the components are computer controlled. It may be cheaper but man it would be a lot of work. Custom jobs like this aren't for the faint of heart. A small block Ford with and AOD would be easier.

If your car set out in the weather with the hood off, I'd say that it is pretty much shot. It would've even had a hard time in sunny AZ. Ya'll do get the monsoon season there. When I see the guys on Roadkill pull an old car from an Arizona salvage yard and get it running right there in the yard, I figure your chances are good that the motor is still at least a usable core engine. Pistons are hard to get for the Lincoln Y-blocks. A lot depends on how resourceful a person is. Egge machine would likely be able to custom make some that would fit a needed size bore or oversize if a person needs them. They do make the larger 368 piston but I don't know if it can be cut down from standard. The difference in bore is 3/16" and the stroke difference is 5/32". The 368 was used in Mercury cars in 1957 and the Lincoln cars in 1956 & 57.
 
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Luckily the hood was down and tape covered the intake, but those dang spark plugs out, that's the bear bi will post my findings once I dive in
 
To answer your question B-ster, No adaptor, you use the trans from the donor car.

I forgot about the size of the mod motor, mine is a 302. In reality, the easiest, cheapest motor swap for almost any car is a Chevy small block engine/trans. That is why you see them so often.

There was an article on Hemmings a while back where they put a Chevy in a '54(?) Packard, which otherwise was original. Made for a nice driver.

About 10 years ago, I bought a '55 T-Bird that was a fugitive from a junkyard. No motor or trans. A friend found a little 305 Chevy motor and 350 turbo trans from a junked Camaro for $300, and put it in for me. It was my RatBird, and drove better than the nice '55 I have now. When I sold it three years later, the new owner drove it 400 miles to Phoenix. It had no interior at all, but a seat. Doubled my money on it too.
 
I got into the head on passenger side of engine. Not looking good. Thick black sludge covering everything. Once I take the head off I'll see what I'm up against on lower end. When I took the upper radiator hose off the neck and took the neck off the intake, there was a lot of rust chunks in the intake. I imagine that's what I'm a gonna find down below. If I'm looking at a total rebuild I have no idea what that might cost. I hate the thought of changing the motor out but financially it would make sense. Anybody have an idea what a rebuild of a 317 would run?
 
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